Palmyra council votes to support a new fire station; not its cost

In a 4-2 vote, Borough Council said it favors a new fire station but not the cost.

PALMYRA &GT;&GT; Borough council Tuesday approved a resolution in support of construction of a new fire station for Citizens Fire Co. No. 1. But it didn't support the estimated $4 million cost In the 4-2 vote, council members Pat Hennessy and Gary Laudermilch cast the dissenting votes. Councilman Scott Mazzocca was absent.

Fire company representatives have proposed construction of a two-story, 26,414-square-foot station on the same property as the new municipal building, 325 S. Railroad St. In recent months, the borough and North Londonderry Township, which is also served by the fire company, have discussed how to pay for the new station. Township supervisors have said they are committed to the project and would increase real estate taxes to pay their share.

Palmyra councilman Robert Longenecker said Tuesday night that he supported the proposal for a new fire station, with some conditions.

Among them, he said he wanted to make sure that borough received credit for the value of the property that's being given to the fire company. Borough manager Roger Powl said an appraiser estimated the value of the site at $57,000.

Longenecker also said he wanted to see the fire company do what it could to reduce the number of unnecessary calls, such as medical assistance calls. In addition, he said he wanted to see the local fire company coordinate more closely with other local companies, "so there is no needless duplication of apparatus."

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Longenecker further said he wanted to see the fire company reduce the cost of the building.

"I think there is fat in the cost of this building, and I would like to see it cut at least five percent, maybe 10 percent, and that would be $200,000 to $400,000," he said.

Council president Jane Quairoli agreed with Longenecker.

"I realize that something needs to be done," she said. "I just don't think we need a $4 million building."

She also expressed concern that the municipalities would be asked to fund new fire apparatus in the future.

"We have a lot of apparatus that is coming up for replacement or refurbishing in the next five or 10 years, and we don't have the money for it," she said.

During the discussion, fire Chief David Dugan explained to council the types of calls the fire company is required to respond to, including medical assists. He said the company only responds to medical assistance calls if there are no other available EMS units in the area.

In addition, Dugan told council that the fire company does coordinate with neighboring companies, pointing out that there is no duplication of apparatus.

"I think you're going to be criticized for not coming up with some kind of reduced amount of money for the new building," Longenecker added. "The public is not going to stand for it."

Dugan said the new station is a "no frills" design. Because of federal ADA laws, the fire station must have an elevator in the current design, which adds about $100,000 to the cost of the building, he said.

C. Thomas Wood, fire company president, also said the plan for the station is a bare bones design.

"There is no fluff in it," Wood said.

One way to reduce the cost of the fire station, he said, would be to build a one-story structure on the site. That would cut the cost to about $3 million, he said. However, the Palmyra Public Library, which also plans to build on the municipal complex site, would have to build elsewhere for such a design to be feasible.

Longenecker, who is the council's representative on the library board, said the library has been offered another property, but it will take several months to determine whether or not it is suitable.

In other business, council authorized advertising an ordinance for a joint agreement to combine resources and personnel to administer civil service tests for applicants for police officer positions in each municipality.

Also, the council authorized the closure of Division Street from North Railroad to North Chestnut streets and Hamilton Alley between East Broad and Arch streets on July 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. for the Palmyra United Christian Church Community Fun Night.